Photo lettering device



Nov. 14, 1961 M, MANN 3,008,392

PHOTO LETTERING DEVICE Original Filed Nov. 15, 1956 2 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR. P70 P n35 PIQ nn Nov. 14, 1961 MANN 3,008,392

PHOTO LETTERING DEVICE Original Filed Nov. 13, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 as viva 76 4 as as 90 a4 A c n zmm JKLHNOPQRSTUVHXYZ abcdemmjkkmnopqrstuvwxyza 2w $12345e7a9o Y %?08 BY H 200 7 ATTORNEY INVENTOR. P7 0 r rd s Man 11 United States Patent 3,008,392 PHOTO LETTERING DEVICE Morris Mann, 1266 Ryder St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Continuation of application Ser. No. 621,958, Nov. 13, 1956. This application Sept. 9, 1957, Ser. No. 682,831 1 Claim. (Cl. 954.5).

This invention relates to improvements in printing, reproducing, composing and photo-composing devices.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device whereby one or more letters, characters or numerals may be reproduced on a tape, sheet of paper or the like, from a type font carried on a master matrix element.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device whereby any desired size or spacing of type or characters may be composed on a tape, sheet of paper or the like, from a type font carried on a master matrix element or set, in accordance with the needs of the user, to fit the space at hand, such as a headline, column heading, sub-title or sub-head, column line of type, advertising layout or portion thereof,-with the aid of photographic means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved photo-composing device in which there is a main housing, including a movable photographic printing paper support, means for supporting a matrix sheet member so as to bring any letter, numeral or symbol of the matrix sheet member into registry with any desired portion of said printing paper, and means for bringing illumination into printing position over the aligned printing paper and matrix element or symbol, so that the matrix element or symbol is photographically reproduced on the printing paper, and may be brought into visibility by suitable development processes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved photo-composing device in which there is provision for easy and accurate movement of the matrix master sheet element to bring into printing position any desired line thereof, and any portion of any line, with precise control of the positioning of the matrix master sheet at all times.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved photographic paper carrier, with means for traversing the same both in left and rightward positions, and directions, and also at right angles thereto, with means for releasably fixing its location at any position, and adjustable electromagnetic left and right traversing meanscontrollable by the operator upon depression of a simple easily accessible switch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved photo-composing device which includes means'for not only illuminating the matrix and underlying photographic printing paper, but also for conducting the composing process in substantial daylight conditions, with' the aid of printing paper and a source of illumination, which is relatively insensitive to ordinary ambient illumination, but is sensitive to the rays of the illumination lamp employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved photo-composing device which is simple in design, composed of few parts, so that it can be easily assembled and manufactured at low cost, and which is rugged and long lived in actual conditions of use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a photo-composing machine which includes fonts or individual matrix master sheet members each containing a complete set of letters and numerals, as well as symbols and' punctuation marks needed, and with their particular upper and lower case letters being of a type size desired, so that the-user can produce anytype size and type style by merely selecting the appropriate matrix master element therefor, and placing it on the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a photocomposing machine of the character described, which is compact in size, light in weight, and easy to store in a shop Without undue bulk, or to transport from place to place as needed.

This is a continuation of my copending patent application, Serial Number 621,958, for Photo Composing Device, filed November 13, 1956.

The above and other advantages and objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which,

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a machine according i to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a right side elevational view of the machine shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken substantially on plane 33 of FIGURE 1, the view being extended to take in the actuating and traversing switching means for clarity.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the slidable paper support carrier.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially on plane 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a face view of the type font matrix member, in one style and size of type, mounted on the positioning bar member.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially on plane 77 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary top plan view seen from viewing plane 88 of FIGURE 3, and partly broken out to show the iron positioning bar rod and the magnet pole piece.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken substantially on plane 9-9 of FIGURE 7.

The present device is particularly useful in the graphic arts, where it is frequently necessary to produce or reproduce letters, numerals, characters, symbols, and the like, in a variety of sizes to fit into the space available, and in any required sequence or arrangement. This type of work may involve considerable diificulty, especially if done by hand, as the artist lettering or otherwise forming the symbolic representation or letter must take extreme care in doing it, and expend time which might be otherwise uscd. Where the job involves a heading, which is to be composed, a title, subtitle, or other representation, the difliculties are manifest, unless the worker has available an expensive typesetting or composing machine. The present device provides means whereby the average art workshop or other type of user, can quickly and easily compose any title, wording, representation, or symbol, in any style or size of type, by means of a simple machine, costing very little in comparison to typesetting machines, and to fit his immediate needs, without the necessity of hand-lettering or other hand art work, and employing simple photographic means for the process. In addition, it includes means for adjustment of letter size and spacing, and justification, which is not only simple in construction, but which can be used by relatively unskilled workers.

In order to understand clearly the nature of the invention, and the best means for carrying it out, reference may be had to the drawings, in which like numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown, there is a housing or cabinet generally indicated at 20, with a floor wall 22 and side walls 24 and 26 secured to and extending upwardly therefrom, and front and rear walls 28 and 30 extending upwardly from the floor wall andsecured at their edges to the side walls 3 i4 26 respectively to define an upwardly open cham- The front and rear walls 28 and 30 may be arranged in angularly inclined disposition as shown best in FIGURE 2, as desired or needed. The upper edges 34 of the side walls 24 and 26 are formed smooth, so as to provide a sliding surface for the offset extensions 36 and 38 of the guide rails 40a and 4% which are secured in mutually parallel spaced array upon and to the top surface 42, of the photographic paper or plate support slider member 44. The photographic paper support slider 44 is provided with side edges 46 and 48 disposed just inside and between the housing left and right side walls 24 and 26, being supported therebetween by the lateral rails 40a and 40b, to which it is secured by means of screws 46 or the like, the rail extensions 36 and 38 thus riding on the top edges 34 of the side walls. Motion of the paper support slider 44 is thus possible in the directions indicated by the arrow 48, that is, a front and rearward motion as seen in FIGURE 1. The slider 44 has top and bottom surfaces 42 and t), and front and rear edges 52 and 54, it being seen that the rearward edge 54 can move rearwardly only up to the location of the rearward wall 30 of the main housing, while the forward edge 52 is movable forwardly so as to slide under the overhanging front platform member 56.

The front platform member 56 is formed with front and rearward edges 58 and 60, arranged with the edge 58 overlying the top of the front cabinet wall 28, and secured thereto by means of screws or other fastenings 62. In addition, the left and right side marginal portions 64 and 66 are supported on the forward portions of the side walls 24 and 26 of the cabinet, being also secured thereto by screws or the like 62. It is thus seen that the paper-support slider member 44 is slidable under the overhanging rearward portion of the platform member 56 when moved into such a position, as indicated by the arrows 48 in FIGURE 1, being always movable parallel to the side walls 24 and 26 only.

It is thus seen that there is an upwardly open channel 70 between the upstanding guide rails 40:; and 40b, in which is disposed the slidable photographic paper holder member 72, the latter being also shown in further detail in FIGURES 4 and 5. The paper holder member 72 may be made of wood, plastic or other light weight material, and has parallel front and rear edges 74 and 76 intersecting with end edges 73 and 80, and with top and bottom surfaces 82 and 84. For lightness and to reduce friction, as shown best in FIGURES 4 and 5, the member 72 may also be grooved out longitudinally at 86, and also a central groove 88 to receive an iron bar member 99 which is firmly forced or pressed into the central groove 88 or adhesively or otherwise fastened therein so as to move with the paper holder member 72. It is seen that the iron bar member 90 preferably extends along the entire length of the groove 88, and it is of material which is temporarily magnetically attracted by the energization of the electromagnet 92 seen in FIGURE 3.

From this view, it is seen that an opening 94 is formed through the plate 44, so that the iron bar member 99 is always over the opening 94, and the magnetic pole or core 96 of the magnetic coil 98 extends upwards into the opening 94, but not quite to the top of the opening, thus avoiding actual positive contact with the iron bar member 90, but coming close enough to it for the purpose of attracting and moving the iron bar 90 and the paper holder 72 in which it is set, as a unit. As seen in FIGURE 3, there is a bracket or frame 100,. with a bottom wall 162 interconnecting end walls 104 and 166,

there being top flanges 108 and 110 lying against the undersurface 50 of the plate 44 and secured thereto by screws 112.

As shown best in FIGURE 3, there is a solenoid coil 114 secured by screws 116 to the floor wall 102 of the main bracket and it has a solenoid plunger 118 which is adapted to move to the left as seen in FIGURE 3, on

energization of the coil 1 14. The electromagnet 98 is secured by screws 119 to the hanger member 120 for movement therewith and with the solenoid plunger 118, to which it is secured at its left end by pin 122. On its right, the hanger member 120 has an upstanding end leg 124 through which a support rod 126 penetrates slidably, the support rod 126 being in turn seated in openings formed in the wall 166 and the depending wall 128 of the main bracket. A spring 130 is carried by the rod 126 so as to bias the hanger member 120 to the right as seen in FIGURE 3, together with the magnetic coil 98 and solenoid plunger 118, thus causing the electromagnet core or pole 96, to be biased normally against the right end of the opening 94 as shown unless otherwise adjusted for a different initial position.

FIGURE 3 also shows an adjustable right traverse stop rod or member 134, which extends through an opening or slot 136 in the end wall 26 of the main housing, and carries a knurled turning knob 138 secured to its right end for turning with the shaft 134. The stop rod 134 is threaded through an opening or boss 140 in hanger bracket main end wall 106, so that its inner end 142 is brought against the hanger bracket wall 124 to adjustably position it under the spring bias of spring 13*) as to its initial or rightwardmost position as needed.

From FIGURE 3 it is seen that the opening 94 is longer from left to right than the pole piece 96 of the electromagnet 98, and hence, when the solenoid 114 is energized, pulling its plunger 1 18 to the left, and with it the pole 96, there is room in the opening 94 for the pole 96 to move a substantial distance or traverse to the left from its initial position at the right. And when the coil 114 is de-energized, the spring 130 returns the plungcr 118, coil 98 and pole 96 to initial positions at the right, so that the pole 96 is either at the right end of the opening, or as close to it as permitted by the adjustment of the adjustable abutment rod 134.

From FIGURE 3, it shows that the solenoid coil 114 and electromagnet 98 are connected in parallel by wires 146, to the power lines 148, through a switch 150, which is the main On-Otf switch for the whole device. Another switch 1.52, which is preferably a micro-switch, normally open, is also interposed in the circuit to the solenoid and electromagnet 114 and 98, so as to energize both at the same time upon depression of the right leg 154 of the switch actuator lever 156, which is centrally pivoted or rockable on pivot 158 about a horizontal axis. A spring 158 may engage the lever 156 to return it to open position when not depressed on either side, that is, to return it when hand pressure is withdrawn on either side. On the other side of the switch actuator lever 156, its leg 160 when depressed as seen in FIGURE 3, closes the micro-switch 162, closing the circuit to the illuminating lamp 164 and its actuating induction coil or ballast 166 mounted on side wall 24 of the cabinet.

It is thus seen on depressing the right leg of the main switch lever 156, the solenoid 114 and magnet 96 are energized together, attracting the iron rod-containing paper holder 72 from below to the electromagnetic pole 96 and moving it and any photographic sensitive paper carried thereon to the left as the solenoid plunger 118 is pulled to the left, thus causing a traverse of the paper holder 72 and the paper thereon to the left, to bring a clear area of the paper under the exposure lamp 164 and its window 168, in the floor 170 of the lamp housing 1'72.

As shown, the micro-switches 152 and 162 may be conveniently mounted on the front panel 28, together with the tilt-blade lever 156, an opening being cut in the front panel to allow the lever 156 to operate therethrough from in front, while the micro-switches are on the inner side of the panel. The main cut-off switch 150 may also be mounted on the front panel or other convenient location.

As illustrated in FIGURE 3, at the left, there is an angle bracket 180, one leg 182 of which is secured by a screw 184 or the like to the underside of the top plate 44 to move therewith while its other leg depends against the inner light surface of the left end wall 24 of the cabinet. A long slot is cut through the end wall 24, the slot being shown at 186, and parallel to the top edge 34 of the side panel 24 of the cabinet. -A wing screw 188 extending through the slot 186, with a washer 190 on its outer or left side as seen in FIGURE 3, to straddle the slot, is threaded into the angle bracket leg 180, and thus affords means for fixing and adjusting the position of the plate 44 at any position it is moved to in the direction of the double arrow 48 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, it is seen that there is a lettering template member 194 preferably formed of a piece of sheet material 196 carrying numerals, letters and other characters to be reproduced, as at 198 in FIGURE 6, the template member or matrix member 194 being formed with top and bottom edges 199 and 200, intersecting with left and right side edges 202 and 204. Near its lower marginal edge 200, the matrix member is provided with a'pair of stud engaging collars or grommets 206, which may be formed of magnetic or magnetically attractive material, such as ferrous metal, to engage over and securely with the upstanding studs 208 fixed in and extending upwardly out of the upper surface of the matrix positioning bar member 210. As a result, when a given matrix member 194 is placed on' the matrix positioning bar member 210, assuming that the studs 208 are permanently magnetized, the collars or grommets 206 providing locating holes in the matrix member 194 are seated Well on the studs 208, and held thereat until removed, without need for complex retaining means. However, other means for such fastening of the matrix member to the positioning member may also be used.

When the particular matrix mmeber 194 is thus secured to the positioning bar member 210, they constitute a unitary assembly, .and it is seen that the bar member 210, with the matrix member 194, is positionable in any one of the three longitudinal grooves or guide tracks 214a, 214b and 2140 formed in the top surface of the front platform member 56 or guide track support member, depending on which of the three lines of letters or symbols 216a, 216b or 2160 are to be brought into registry under the window 168 of the printing lamp 164. Such alignment is easily accomplished by bringing the corresponding line of the lower guide font group lines 218a, 218b or 2180 into registry with the base guide square or ring 220 carried or imprinted on the central portion of the upper marginal edge of the front platform member 56 as seen best in FIGURE 1. This guide square 220 is preferably a piece of light colored plastic or other material which is directly in vertical alignment with the light exposing window 168 under the lamp, so that when a particular letter or symbol on the lower type font group is over the guide square 220, the corresponding exposing letter or symbol corresponding thereto is directly under the light exposing window 168, and, when the light sensitive paper 224 is under the upper matrix font letter which is under the light window 168, then illumination cast by the lamp 164 will print the letter or symbol on the paper 224, subject to being developed and printed by well known photographic processes well known in the art, depending on the nature of the paper, the light, and the exposure.

The matrix positioning bar member 210 has a positioning rib 228 integrally depending therefrom, as seen best in FIGURE 7, and conforming with the V-shaped guide grooves 2140, etc., in the member, so as to slide therealong from left to right and vice versa as seen in FIGURE 1, as indicated by the arrow 230. In order to aid in longitudinal positioning from left to right, etc, of the member 210, its rib 228 is preferably provided with a series of spaced notches 232, as seen best in FIG- URE 9, for engaging with a single or aligned series of ribs or wires 234 embedded in the member 56 and extending mutually in alignment therethrough as seen best in FIGURES 1, 7 and 9, including extending across the notches 214a, 214b and 2140 so as to engage releasably with the notches 232.. As a' result, the traverse of the member 210 along any particular guide groove such as 2140, is from one position to the next adjacent in interrupted steps as the notches 232 sort of ratchet across the wires 234 engaged therewith, and the wires and notches are positioned to correspond with the letters or numerals thereabove on the matrix member 194. Hence, to accommodate the 26 letters on each line, such as 2160 of the matrix member 194, there would be a little more quantity of notches, for example, 28, to define the ends thereof, although only one wire would be needed as shown on each line. As the notches and wires are purposely shallow relative to each other, there is no obstacle interposed to desired movement, substantially, as the notches slide over the wires, butthey click as they go over, and will not move from one to the other until the operator moves them deliberately with the required small amount of force from his hands or fingers. This brings any particular letter over positioning plate 220 with its corresponding upper font letter or symbol under the light exposing window 168.

The exposing light 164 may be of any suitable type of luminant, incandescent or producing suitable ray's, such as ultraviolet, infra red and the like, depending on what the photographic process is that is being used, and whether it takes place in ambient daylight, under artificial light, or in darkness, or under photographic safelight, such as under a ruby light giving deep red illumination not affecting the sensitive paper 250. Thus it is apparent that the present apparatus can be operated either in a dark-room of any type well known in the photographic art, with interior illumination from a ruby lamp or other type of illumination having no substantial effect on the photographic sensitive paper 250 employed. It can also be operated in other types of surroundings, such as in an ofiice or room, under ordinary ambient illumination lacking in ultra-violet rays substantially, where the printing paper is sensitive to ultra-violet rays or the like, and the illumination exposure lamp 164 is of a type, such as a mercury vapor or other type of electric discharge lamp capable of good generation of such ray's through its window 168 onto the sensitive paper 250 through the matrix sheet 224, to print the interposed letter or symbol interposed therebetween. The type of exposure lamp 164 and the printing paper 250 is a matter of choice of the operator, depending on the conditions intended to be satisfied or objects to be achieved photographically, according to well known photographic principles.

It is thus apparent that the operator places his sheet of photographic sensitive paper 250 on the paper carrier 72, fastening it by pressure sensitive tape, thumb tacks, or other fastening means or suitable clamps or clips to move with the carrier 72. He selects the desired matrix 194 with its desired style and size of type, from a collection of such matrix members 194, and afiixes it to the base member 210 over the magnetic stubs 208, so as to overlie the registration plate 220 and extend under the lamp window 168 but over the sensitive paper 250. He then moves his paper holder 72 to the right so that its left margin is under the lamp window 168. He then selects the desired lower font letter say of all capitals, in lower font line 2180, having brought his n'b 228 into guide groove 214a of the member 56, and brings this letter, such as K over the alignment plate 220, hence bringing the corresponding upper font capital letter K also under the lamp window 168. He then depresses the left main light lever of the switch, to light up the lamp 164 for the desired time of exposure, looking at his watch or clock for the desired number of seconds, and takes his finger off the lever 160 thereafter, allowing the spring to return the switch to open position, and extinguishing the lamp 164. Looking at FIGURE 6, it is seen that above each letter on the lower font, as at 254, is a numeral, such as 4 over the A, this indicating the key width of the letter a. In order to get past the letter A, that is, to move the exposed but undeveloped and hence invisible print of the letter A on the sensitive paper 250 out of registry with the lamp window 168, he taps the right hand switch lever 154 a series of four taps, one after the other, each tap moving the solenoid plunger 118 and hence the magnet pole 96 and the paper holder 72 therewith, one unit of traverse. Thus by tapping four times, he has moved the paper holder and the paper four traverse units, and hence out of the registry with the lamp window 168, and a new unexposed portion of the paper is now in registry with the lamp window 168, ready for him to move a new letter of the matrix 194 or the same letter without movement, into registry with the alignment plate 220 on the lower font, and with the upper font let-ter under the lamp window 168 ready for exposing a new letter. He then touches the left lever 160, lighting the lamp 164 and holds it down for the desired time of exposure.

It is seen that by adjustment of the knob 138 at the right of FIGURE 3, the operator can adjust the traverse of the magnetic pole 96 to the right, and hence its total traverse, each time the left switch lever 154 is depressed to move it a traverse unit of distance. Hence, where the type font has wide letters, then he may adjust accordingly to suit their width, so that to move a particular exposed imprint out of the registry position under the lamp window 168, he can follow the numerals such as at 254 in FIGURE 6, for that letter for that size and style of type font.

The lamp 164 is housed in a lamp housing 172, which may be of any suitable opaque material, such as wood, plastic, metal or the like, mounted on a hinge 270, the other leg 272 of which is fastened to the rear panel 31) of the cabinet by a screw 274. The lamp housing may be swung up in the direction of the arrow 276 in FIG- URE 2, out of the way when needed, and has a floor wall 170 with a cut out window 168 to allow light rays from the lamp 164, supported therein in any suitable manner, to shine therethrough through the matrix 224 and onto the sensitive paper 250 therebelow. It is preferable to make the window 168 quite large to accommodate the largest letter or symbol to be used with the device, and to employ reducing templates or the like to fit over the window to reduce its size or shape to that desired, such reducing means being made for easy fitting and removal, as by spring clips or other well known means. It is preferable that the floor 170 rest right on the matrix 224 so as to avoid light leakage under the edges. A small window can be cut into the front wall 278 of the lamp housing, as at 280, to allow the operator to see when the lamp is actually lighted or is out of order, and hence to aid in timing the exposure.

Although I have described my invention in specific terms, it will be understood that various changes may be made in size, shape, materials and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

A matrix assembly device comprising a matrix bar member, a plurality of permanently magnetic studs projecting therefrom, a matrix sheet, a plurality of ferrous grommets apertured to engage said studs carried by said matrix sheet and constructed and arranged for locating engagement with said magnetic studs for locating said matrix and for releasably being secured to said studs.

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